Please join Asia Society Hong Kong Center (ASHK) and the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre (HKHTC) for a memorial reception, dinner, and program commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and honoring its survivors.

ASHK and HKHTC are delighted to welcome an address (delivered via videoconference) from Professor Rana Mitter of Harvard University, a world-renowned expert on China’s role and experience in World War II, on The Burdens and Lessons of History: Remembering WWII in Asia. Professor Mitter’s address will provide context for our understanding of World War II and the lessons we can learn from studying and discussing this pivotal episode in human history.

We are also privileged to host a discussion with Professor Mark Spigelman, who will share his story of survival in conversation with Mr. Ronnie C. Chan, Chairman of ASHK. Professor Spigelman’s account sheds light on the resilience of those who endured the Holocaust and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering history to prevent such atrocities from occurring again. Ms. Rachel Spigelman, Professor Spigelman’s wife and herself the daughter of Holocaust survivors, will join the discussion to speak about her experiences chronicling Professor Spigelman’s story in a new book for children titled Blue Eyes Wide Open.

As part of this commemoration, we are also proud to unveil an innovative project harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to educate and inspire in classrooms across Asia. HKHTC, in partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, will introduce Dimensions in Testimony, an AI-driven project that features interactive testimonies from Holocaust survivors, a Nanjing massacre survivor, and a Chinese comfort woman. This pilot project, which includes the testimony of a comfort woman for the first time ever in an AI format, allows audiences to engage in real-time conversations with these remarkable individuals, ensuring their stories are heard and remembered.

In addition, guests can experience The Last Goodbye, a VR project featuring the testimony of Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter. This immersive experience transports participants to the Majdanek concentration camp in Poland, where Pinchas recounts his harrowing journey as the sole survivor of his family during the Holocaust. Viewers will walk alongside him through the camp, witnessing his poignant memories and gaining a deeper understanding of the atrocities he endured.

Join us for a special demonstration of these transformative experiences that honor the resilience of survivors and promote a deeper understanding of history.

Rana Mitter is ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is the author of several books, including Forgotten Ally: China’s World War II (2013) which won the 2014 RUSI/Duke of Westminster’s Medal for Military Literature, and was named a Book of the Year in the Financial Times and Economist. His latest book is China’s Good War: How World War II is Shaping a New Nationalism (Harvard, 2020). His writing on contemporary China has appeared recently in Foreign Affairs, the Harvard Business Review, The Spectator, The Critic, and The Guardian.  He has commented regularly on China in media and forums around the world, including at the World Economic Forum at Davos. His recent documentary on contemporary Chinese politics "Meanwhile in Beijing" is available on BBC Sounds.  He is co-author, with Sophia Gaston, of the report “Conceptualizing a UK-China Engagement Strategy” (British Foreign Policy Group, 2020). He won the 2020 Medlicott Medal for Service to History, awarded by the UK Historical Association.  He previously taught at Oxford, and is a Fellow of the British Academy.

Born in November 1940 in Poland, Professor Mark Spigelman is a Holocaust survivor whose extraordinary journey of resilience and survival during World War II is both harrowing and inspiring. To evade capture by the Nazis, Mark's mother disguised him as a girl—a daring act that ultimately saved his life. The family endured unimaginable hardships, including hiding in a ghetto and a bunker, as well as living in secret in rubbish tips and a farmhouse.

Mark is also a cousin of Art Spiegelman, the author of Maus: A Survivor's Tale, which poignantly illustrates the complexities of survival and the lasting impact of trauma during the Holocaust. Mark's experiences are partially recounted in Maus, the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.

Rachel Spigelman is an accomplished author and illustrator dedicated to preserving her husband Mark's Holocaust survival story for future generations. With a background in portrait artistry and storytelling, Rachel crafted Blue Eyes Wide Open as a heartfelt children's book that conveys the complexities of survival during one of history's darkest times. Drawing from her personal experiences as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Rachel emphasises the importance of educating young readers about the past in an accessible and empathetic manner. Her work not only honours her family's legacy but also provides a vital resource for families seeking to discuss sensitive historical topics with children.

We look forward to your support. Proceeds from the evening will contribute to supporting the Asia Society’s mission of educating people about the countries and cultures of Asia, and global issues that impact the region.